Saving History Saturday: Gravel Roads
If you’ve had the opportunity to explore Loudoun County, Virginia, and trace the routes of campaigns or troop movements through the area, you’ve probably driven the narrow gravel roads which are nearly unchanged through the centuries.
On October 31, 2020, Kasey Clark plans to ride his bicycle over 250 miles of these historic, gravel roads in an effort raise awareness of their significance and advocate for preservation. Recently, he has been raising money to help save the gravel roads from pavement, recognizing the historic value they bring to the county.
It’s part of an on-going discussion about development and growth in the county verses keeping some of the historic veins of the land. In June of this year, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources announced that the roads could be eligible for inclusion on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. However, additional historic research is needed to prove on paper the significance of these roads, and America’s Routes is working to raise funds.
Today—if all goes as planned—cyclist Clark will be pedaling toward that goal while raising awareness and starting discussions about historic preservation in his backyard region.
More details in the original article: A Cyclist Pedals To Save Loudoun County Gravel Roads